Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective means for detecting the use of drugs and alcohol. Hair serves as a long-term record of alcohol and drug ingestion by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window of up to three months for alcohol and various drugs. Hair is easy to collect, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment consisting of approximately 200 strands of hair (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for testing and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or analysis beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It's recommended to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not obtainable, a comparable quantity of body hair is acceptable. When referring to head hair, it exclusively means scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary steps in the laboratory handling of a drug test are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial processing of a sample within a laboratory's system. This step includes verifying the secure sealing and proper shipping of the sample, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplemental data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening constitutes an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug usage in most samples, a positive result needs confirmation to be legally valid. Any samples showing a presumptive positive in Screening require a subsequent confirmation step.
Should a sample exhibit a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction process. In this stage, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug testing the most challenging methodology.
Confirmation of any positive screening result is completed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that presumptively test positive are washed before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Midfield, TX.
Extended Detection Window is a key advantage in Midfield, TX.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Midfield, TX.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations in Midfield, TX.
Simple, Confidential Process in Midfield, TX.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Midfield, TX.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results are crucial in Midfield, TX.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Midfield, TX.